Season 4: Episode 133 - BOOK TO SCREEN: Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (1844) / The Count of Monte Cristo (1934)

Book: 

The Count of Monte Cristo (1844)

by Alexandre Dumas

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Film:

The Count of Monte Cristo (1934)

 

Beginning in the early days of the Hundred Day period, this adventure story deals with hope, justice, vengeance, mercy and forgiveness.  It centres on a man who is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes from jail, acquires a fortune, and sets about exacting revenge on those responsible for his imprisonment. His plans have devastating consequences for both the innocent and the guilty. 

 

The 1934 film directed by Rowland V Lee and starring Robert Donat and Elissa Land, this would be the first sound adaption of the film (there were five silent films before this).  The film would prove to be a box office smash which would lead to two sequels.  The film takes some liberties from its source material.  To date the only adaption that is faithful to the film is a 39 part ITC television serial starring Richard Chamberland from 1975.

 

Opening Credits; Introduction (.53); Plot Synopsis (8.13); Forming the Plot (14.49); Book Thoughts (49.01); Story Geeks – What to Watch This Week (52.19); Introducing a Film (55.25); Film Trailer (56.20);  Lights, Camera, Action (58.37); Epilogue (1:19.23); End Credits (1:24.23); Closing Credits (1:25.08)

 

Opening and Closing Credits– Classical Jingle by Dan Hughes

 

Original Music copyrighted 2020 Dan Hughes Music and the Literary License Podcast. 

 

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